Veterinary clinic, farmer say their animals unaffected
A post that went viral locally showing a brown dog named Charlie who supposedly lives in Mars tugged at the heartstrings of pet lovers, as it reported he suffered from vinyl chloride poisoning as a result of the Feb. 3 train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.
But a comment on the post by Kindred Spirits Rescue Ranch, a pet rescue organization, near the derailment refuted the veracity of the post, saying the only way to test for vinyl chloride in a pet’s system would be through a necropsy, which would be conducted after the animal’s death.
Bedonna Erdlen, practice manager at Cranberry Township Veterinary Hospital, said she regrets that someone created a post showcasing “Charlie” and his alleged illness.
“The last thing we want is mass hysteria created from a Facebook post that doesn’t have the proper information,” Erdlen said.
